Geometric Flows 2017; 2:49–71

Research Article Open Access

Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi*

The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow

https://doi.org/10.1515/geofl-2017-0001
Received April 20, 2017; accepted October 23, 2017

Abstract: We compute the evolution equation of the Cotton and the Bach tensor under the Ricci flow of a
Riemannian manifold, with particular attention to the three dimensional case, and we discuss some appli-
cations.

Keywords: Ricci flow, Cotton tensor, Bach tensor, Ricci solitons

MSC: 53C21, 53C25

1 Preliminaries
The Riemann curvature operator of a Riemannian manifold (M n , g) is defined, as in [6], by

Riem(X, Y)Z = ∇Y ∇X Z − ∇X ∇Y Z + ∇[X,Y] Z .

l ∂
In a local coordinate system the components of the (3, 1)–Riemann curvature tensor are given by Rijk ∂x l
=
∂ ∂ m

∂
Riem ∂x i , ∂x j ∂x k and we denote by Rijkl = g lm Rijk its (4, 0)–version.
With the previous choice, for the sphere Sn we have Riem(v, w, v, w) = Rabcd v a w b v c w d > 0.

In all the paper the Einstein convention of summing over the repeated indices will be adopted.

The Ricci tensor is obtained by the contraction Rik = g jl Rijkl and R = g ik Rik will denote the scalar curva-
ture.
We recall the interchange of derivative formula,

∇2ij ω k − ∇2ji ω k = Rijkp g pq ω q ,

and Schur lemma, which follows by the second Bianchi identity,

2g pq ∇p Rqi = ∇i R .

They both will be used extensively in the computations that follows.

The so called Weyl tensor is then defined by the following decomposition formula (see [6, Chapter 3,
Section K]) in dimension n ≥ 3,
1 R
Rijkl = (R g − Ril g jk + Rjl g ik − Rjk g il ) − (g g − g il g jk ) + Wijkl . (1.1)
n − 2 ik jl (n − 1)(n − 2) ik jl
The Weyl tensor satisfies all the symmetries of the curvature tensor, moreover, all its traces with the metric
are zero, as it can be easily seen by the above formula.

*Corresponding Author: Michele Rimoldi: Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche "Giuseppe Luigi Lagrange", Politecnico di
Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, Italy, I-10129, E-mail: michele.rimoldi@polito.it
Carlo Mantegazza: Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Napoli "Federico II", Via Cintia, Monte S. Angelo, Napoli, Italy,
I-80126, E-mail: c.mantegazza@sns.it
Samuele Mongodi: Dipartimento di Matematica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milano, Italy, I-20133,
E-mail: samuele.mongodi@polimi.it

Open Access. © 2017 Carlo Mantegazza et al., published by De Gruyter Open. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-Non-Commercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License.
50 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

In dimension three W is identically zero for every Riemannian manifold. It becomes relevant instead when
n ≥ 4 since its vanishing is a condition equivalent for (M n , g) to be locally conformally flat, that is, around
every point p ∈ M n there is a conformal deformation e g ij = e f g ij of the original metric g, such that the new
metric is flat, namely, the Riemann tensor associated to e g is zero in U p (here f : U p → R is a smooth function
defined in a open neighborhood U p of p).
In dimension n = 3, instead, locally conformally flatness is equivalent to the vanishing of the following Cotton
tensor
1

Cijk = ∇k Rij − ∇j Rik − ∇k Rg ij − ∇j Rg ik , (1.2)
2(n − 1)
which expresses the fact that the Schouten tensor

Rg ij
Sij = Rij −
2(n − 1)

is a Codazzi tensor (see [1, Chapter 16, Section C]), that is, a symmetric bilinear form Tij such that ∇k Tij =
∇i Tkj .
By means of the second Bianchi identity, one can easily get (see [1]) that

n−3
∇l Wlijk = − C . (1.3)
n − 2 ijk
Hence, when n ≥ 4, if we assume that the manifold is locally conformally flat (that is, W = 0), the Cotton
tensor is identically zero also in this case, but this is only a necessary condition.
By direct computation, we can see that the tensor Cijk satisfies the following symmetries

Cijk = −Cikj , Cijk + Cjki + Ckij = 0 , (1.4)

moreover it is trace–free in any two indices,

g ij Cijk = g ik Cijk = g jk Cijk = 0 , (1.5)

by its skew–symmetry and Schur lemma.

We suppose now that (M n , g(t)) is a Ricci flow in some time interval, that is, the time–dependent metric
g(t) satisfies
∂
g = −2Rij .
∂t ij
We have then the following evolution equations for the Christoffel symbols, the Ricci tensor and the scalar
curvature (see for instance [7]),

∂ k
Γ = −g ks ∇i Rjs − g ks ∇j Ris + g ks ∇s Rij
∂t ij
∂
R = ∆Rij − 2Rkl Rkijl − 2g pq Rip Rjq (1.6)
∂t ij
∂
R = ∆R + 2|Ric|2 .
∂t

All the computations which follow will be done in a fixed local frame, not in a moving frame.

Acknowledgments. The first and second authors were partially supported by the Italian FIRB Ideas “Analysis
and Beyond”.

Note1.1. We remark that Huai-Dong Cao also, independently by us, worked out the computation of the evo-
lution of the Cotton tensor in dimension three, in an unpublished note.
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 51

2 The Evolution Equation of the Cotton Tensor in 3D

The goal of this section is to compute the evolution equation under the Ricci flow of the Cotton tensor Cijk in
dimension three (see [5] for the evolution of the Weyl tensor), the general computation in any dimension is
postponed to section 4.
In the special three–dimensional case we have,
R
Rijkl = Rik g jl − Ril g jk + Rjl g ik − Rjk g il −
(g g − g il g jk ) , (2.1)
2 ik jl
1

Cijk = ∇k Rij − ∇j Rik − ∇k Rg ij − ∇j Rg ik , (2.2)
4
hence, the evolution equations (1.6) become
∂ k
Γ = − g ks ∇i Rjs − g ks ∇j Ris + g ks ∇s Rij
∂t ij
∂
R = ∆Rij − 6g pq Rip Rjq + 3RRij + 2|Ric|2 g ij − R2 g ij
∂t ij
∂
R = ∆R + 2|Ric|2 .
∂t

From these formulas we can compute the evolution equations of the derivatives of the curvatures assuming,
from now on, to be in normal coordinates,
∂
∇R = ∇l ∆R + 2∇l |Ric|2 ,
∂t l

∂
∇s Rij = ∇s ∆Rij − 6∇s Rip Rjp − 6Rip ∇s Rjp + 3∇s RRij + 3R∇s Rij
∂t
+2∇s |Ric|2 g ij − ∇s R2 g ij + (∇i Rsp + ∇s Rip − ∇p Ris )Rjp + (∇j Rsp + ∇s Rjp − ∇p Rjs )Rip
= ∇s ∆Rij − 5∇s Rip Rjp − 5Rip ∇s Rjp + 3∇s RRij + 3R∇s Rij
+2∇s |Ric|2 g ij − ∇s R2 g ij + (∇i Rsp − ∇p Ris )Rjp + (∇j Rsp − ∇p Rjs )Rip
= ∇s ∆Rij − 5∇s Rip Rjp − 5Rip ∇s Rjp + 3∇s RRij + 3R∇s Rij
+2∇s |Ric|2 g ij − ∇s R2 g ij + Cspi Rjp + Cspj Rip + Rjp [∇i Rg sp − ∇p Rg is ]/4 + Rip [∇j Rg sp − ∇p Rg js ]/4 ,

where in the last passage we substituted the expression of the Cotton tensor.
We then compute,
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂

C = ∇ R − ∇R − ∇ Rg − ∇j Rg ik /4
∂t ijk ∂t k ij ∂t j ik ∂t k ij
= ∇k ∆Rij − 5∇k Rip Rjp − 5Rip ∇k Rjp + 3∇k RRij + 3R∇k Rij
+2∇k |Ric|2 g ij − ∇k R2 g ij + Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip
+Rjp [∇i Rg kp − ∇p Rg ik ]/4 + Rip [∇j Rg kp − ∇p Rg jk ]/4
−∇j ∆Rik + 5∇j Rip Rkp + 5Rip ∇j Rkp − 3∇j RRik − 3R∇j Rik
−2∇j |Ric|2 g ik + ∇j R2 g ik − Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip
−Rkp [∇i Rg jp − ∇p Rg ij ]/4 − Rip [∇k Rg jp − ∇p Rg kj ]/4
+(Rij ∇k R − Rik ∇j R /2 − ∇k ∆R + 2∇k |Ric|2 g ij /4 + ∇j ∆R + 2∇j |Ric|2 g ik /4

= ∇k ∆Rij − 5∇k Rip Rjp − 5Rip ∇k Rjp + 3∇k RRij + 3R∇k Rij
+3∇k |Ric|2 g ij /2 − ∇k R2 g ij + Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip
+Rjk ∇i R/4 − Rjp ∇p Rg ik /4 + Rik ∇j R/4 − Rip ∇p Rg jk /4
−∇j ∆Rik + 5∇j Rip Rkp + 5Rip ∇j Rkp − 3∇j RRik − 3R∇j Rik
−3∇j |Ric|2 g ik /2 + ∇j R2 g ik − Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip
52 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

−Rkj ∇i R/4 + Rkp ∇p Rg ij /4 − Rij ∇k R/4 + Rip ∇p Rg kj /4

+(Rij ∇k R − Rik ∇j R /2 − ∇k ∆Rg ij /4 + ∇j ∆Rg ik /4
= ∇k ∆Rij − 5∇k Rip Rjp − 5Rip ∇k Rjp + 13∇k RRij /4 + 3R∇k Rij
+3∇k |Ric|2 g ij /2 − ∇k R2 g ij + Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip − Rjp ∇p Rg ik /4
−∇j ∆Rik + 5∇j Rip Rkp + 5Rip ∇j Rkp − 13∇j RRik /4 − 3R∇j Rik
−3∇j |Ric|2 g ik /2 + ∇j R2 g ik − Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip
+Rkp ∇p Rg ij /4 − ∇k ∆Rg ij /4 + ∇j ∆Rg ik /4

and
∆Cijk = ∆∇k Rij − ∆∇j Rik − ∆∇k Rg ij /4 + ∆∇j Rg ik /4 ,

hence,

∂
C − ∆Cijk = ∇k ∆Rij − ∇j ∆Rik − ∆∇k Rij + ∆∇j Rik
∂t ijk
−∇k ∆Rg ij /4 + ∇j ∆Rg ik /4 + ∆∇k Rg ij /4 − ∆∇j Rg ik /4
−5∇k Rip Rjp − 5Rip ∇k Rjp + 13∇k RRij /4 + 3R∇k Rij
+3∇k |Ric|2 g ij /2 − ∇k R2 g ij + Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip − Rjp ∇p Rg ik /4
+5∇j Rip Rkp + 5Rip ∇j Rkp − 13∇j RRik /4 − 3R∇j Rik
−3∇j |Ric|2 g ik /2 + ∇j R2 g ik − Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip
+Rkp ∇p Rg ij /4

Now to proceed, we need the following commutation rules for the derivatives of the Ricci tensor and of
the scalar curvature, where we will employ the special form of the Riemann tensor in dimension three given
by formula (2.1),

∇k ∆Rij − ∆∇k Rij = ∇3kll Rij − ∇3lkl Rij + ∇3lkl Rij − ∇3llk Rij
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + Rklip ∇l Rjp + Rkljp ∇l Rip + ∇3lkl Rij − ∇3llk Rij
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + Rik ∇j R/2 + Rjk ∇i R/2
−Rkp ∇i Rjp − Rkp ∇j Rip + Rlp ∇l Rjp g ik + Rlp ∇l Rip g jk
−Rli ∇l Rjk − Rlj ∇l Rik − R∇j Rg ik /4 − R∇i Rg jk /4


+R∇i Rjk /2 + R∇j Rik /2 + ∇l Rklip Rpj + Rkljp Rpi
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + Rik ∇j R/2 + Rjk ∇i R/2
−Rkp ∇i Rjp − Rkp ∇j Rip + Rlp ∇l Rjp g ik + Rlp ∇l Rip g jk
−Rli ∇l Rjk − Rlj ∇l Rik − R∇j Rg ik /4 − R∇i Rg jk /4
+R∇i Rjk /2 + R∇j Rik /2
+∇l Rik Rlj − Ril Rkj + Rpl Rpj g ik − Rpk Rpj g il − g ik RRlj /2 + g il RRjk /2


+Rjk Rli − Rjl Rki + Rpl Rpi g jk − Rpk Rpi g jl − g jk RRli /2 + g jl RRik /2
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + Rik ∇j R/2 + Rjk ∇i R/2
−Rkp ∇i Rjp − Rkp ∇j Rip + Rlp ∇l Rjp g ik + Rlp ∇l Rip g jk
−Rli ∇l Rjk − Rlj ∇l Rik − R∇j Rg ik /4 − R∇i Rg jk /4
+R∇i Rjk /2 + R∇j Rik /2
−∇i Rpk Rpj + ∇i RRjk /2 + g ik Rpl ∇l Rpj
−Rpk ∇i Rpj − g ik R∇j R/4 + R∇i Rjk /2
−∇j Rpk Rpi + ∇j RRik /2 + g jk Rpl ∇l Rpi
−Rpk ∇j Rpi − g jk R∇i R/4 + R∇j Rik /2
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 53

= −Rkp ∇p Rij + Rik ∇j R + Rjk ∇i R

−2Rkp ∇i Rjp − 2Rkp ∇j Rip + 2Rlp ∇l Rjp g ik + 2Rlp ∇l Rip g jk
−Rli ∇l Rjk − Rlj ∇l Rik − Rpj ∇i Rpk − Rpi ∇j Rpk
−R∇j Rg ik /2 − R∇i Rg jk /2 + R∇i Rjk + R∇j Rik

and
∇k ∆R − ∆∇k R = Rkllp ∇p R = −Rkp ∇p R .

Then, getting back to the main computation, we obtain

∂
C − ∆Cijk = −Rkp ∇p Rij + Rik ∇j R + Rjk ∇i R
∂t ijk
−2Rkp ∇i Rjp − 2Rkp ∇j Rip + 2Rlp ∇l Rjp g ik + 2Rlp ∇l Rip g jk
−Rli ∇l Rjk − Rlj ∇l Rik − Rpj ∇i Rpk − Rpi ∇j Rpk
−R∇j Rg ik /2 − R∇i Rg jk /2 + R∇i Rjk + R∇j Rik
+Rjp ∇p Rik − Rij ∇k R − Rkj ∇i R
+2Rjp ∇i Rkp + 2Rjp ∇k Rip − 2Rlp ∇l Rkp g ij − 2Rlp ∇l Rip g kj
+Rli ∇l Rkj + Rlk ∇l Rij + Rpk ∇i Rpj + Rpi ∇k Rpj
+R∇k Rg ij /2 + R∇i Rg kj /2 − R∇i Rkj − R∇k Rij
+Rkp ∇p Rg ij /4 − Rjp ∇p Rg ik /4
−5∇k Rip Rjp − 5Rip ∇k Rjp + 13∇k RRij /4 + 3R∇k Rij
+3∇k |Ric|2 g ij /2 − ∇k R2 g ij + Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip − Rjp ∇p Rg ik /4
+5∇j Rip Rkp + 5Rip ∇j Rkp − 13∇j RRik /4 − 3R∇j Rik
−3∇j |Ric|2 g ik /2 + ∇j R2 g ik − Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip + Rkp ∇p Rg ij /4
= Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip − Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip
+[2Rlp ∇l Rjp + 3R∇j R/2 − Rjp ∇p R/2 − 3∇j |Ric|2 /2]g ik
+[−2Rlp ∇l Rkp − 3R∇k R/2 + Rkp ∇p R/2 + 3∇k |Ric|2 /2]g ij
−Rkp ∇i Rjp + Rjp ∇i Rkp − 3∇k Rip Rjp − 4Rip ∇k Rjp + 9∇k RRij /4 + 2R∇k Rij
+3∇j Rip Rkp + 4Rip ∇j Rkp − 9∇j RRik /4 − 2R∇j Rik

Now, by means of the very definition of the Cotton tensor in dimension three (2.2) and the identities (1.4),
we substitute

Ckpj − Cjpk = − Ckjp − Cjpk = Cpkj

1

∇l Rjp = ∇j Rlp + Cpjl + ∇l Rg pj − ∇j Rg pl
4
1

∇l Rkp = ∇k Rlp + Cpkl + ∇ Rg − ∇k Rg pl
4 l pk
1

∇i Rjp = ∇j Rip + Cpji + ∇i Rg jp − ∇j Rg ip
4
1

∇i Rkp = ∇k Rip + Cpki + ∇ Rg − ∇k Rg ip
4 i kp
in the last expression above, getting
∂
C − ∆Cijk = Rjp Ckpi − Rkp Cjpi + Rip Cpkj
∂t ijk h

+ 2Rlp ∇j Rlp + Cpjl + ∇l Rg pj /4 − ∇j Rg pl /4
i
+ 3R∇j R/2 − Rjp ∇p R/2 − 3∇j |Ric|2 /2 g ik
h

+ − 2Rlp ∇k Rlp + Cpkl + ∇l Rg pk /4 − ∇k Rg pl /4
54 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

i
− 3R∇k R/2 + Rkp ∇p R/2 + 3∇k |Ric|2 /2 g ij


−Rkp ∇j Rip + Cpji + ∇i Rg jp /4 − ∇j Rg ip /4


+Rjp ∇k Rip + Cpki + ∇i Rg kp /4 − ∇k Rg ip /4
−3∇k Rip Rjp − 4Rip ∇k Rjp + 9∇k RRij /4 + 2R∇k Rij
+3∇j Rip Rkp + 4Rip ∇j Rkp − 9∇j RRik /4 − 2R∇j Rik



= Rjp Ckpi + Cpki − Rkp Cjpi + Cpji + Rip Cpkj
+2Rlp Cpjl g ik − 2Rlp Cpkl g ij
+ R∇j R − ∇j |Ric|2 /2 g ik − R∇k R − ∇k |Ric|2 /2 g ij
   

−2∇k Rip Rjp − 4Rip ∇k Rjp + 2∇k RRij + 2R∇k Rij

+2∇j Rip Rkp + 4Rip ∇j Rkp − 2∇j RRik − 2R∇j Rik .

then, we substitute again

1

∇k Rjp = ∇p Rkj + Cjpk + ∇ Rg − ∇p Rg jk
4 k jp
1

∇j Rkp = ∇p Rjk + Ckpj + ∇j Rg kp − ∇p Rg kj
4
1

∇k Rij = ∇i Rkj + Cjik + ∇ Rg − ∇i Rg jk
4 k ij
1

∇j Rik = ∇i Rjk + Ckij + ∇ Rg − ∇i Rg kj ,
4 j ik

finally obtaining

∂


C − ∆Cijk = Rjp Ckpi + Cpki − Rkp Cjpi + Cpji + Rip Cpkj
∂t ijk
+2Rlp Cpjl g ik − 2Rlp Cpkl g ij
+ R∇j R − ∇j |Ric|2 /2 g ik − R∇k R − ∇k |Ric|2 /2 g ij
   


−2∇k Rip Rjp − 4Rip ∇p Rkj + Cjpk + ∇k Rg jp /4 − ∇p Rg jk /4


+2∇k RRij + 2R ∇i Rkj + Cjik + ∇k Rg ij /4 − ∇i Rg jk /4


+2∇j Rip Rkp + 4Rip ∇p Rjk + Ckpj + ∇j Rg kp /4 − ∇p Rg kj /4


−2∇j RRik − 2R ∇i Rjk + Ckij + ∇j Rg ik /4 − ∇i Rg kj /4



= Rjp Ckpi + Cpki − Rkp Cjpi + Cpji + Rip Cpkj



+4Rip Ckpj − Cjpk + 2R Cjik − Ckij
+2Rlp Cpjl g ik − 2Rlp Cpkl g ij
+ R∇j R/2 − ∇j |Ric|2 /2 g ik − R∇k R/2 − ∇k |Ric|2 /2 g ij
   

−2∇k Rip Rjp + 2∇j Rip Rkp

+∇k RRij − ∇j RRik



= Rjp Ckpi + Cpki − Rkp Cjpi + Cpji + 5Rip Cpkj
+2RCijk + 2Rlp Cpjl g ik − 2Rlp Cpkl g ij
+ R∇j R/2 − ∇j |Ric|2 /2 g ik − R∇k R/2 − ∇k |Ric|2 /2 g ij
   

+2∇j Rip Rkp − 2∇k Rip Rjp

+∇k RRij − ∇j RRik ,

where in the last passage we used again the identities (1.4).

Hence, we can resume this long computation in the following proposition, getting back to a generic coordinate
basis.
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 55

Proposition 2.1. During the Ricci flow of a 3–dimensional Riemannian manifold (M 3 , g(t)), the Cotton tensor
satisfies the following evolution equation

∂ t − ∆ Cijk = g pq Rpj (Ckqi + Cqki ) + 5g pq Rip Cqkj + g pq Rpk (Cjiq + Cqij )

(2.3)
+2RCijk + 2Rql Cqjl g ik − 2Rql Cqkl g ij
1 1 R R
+ ∇k |Ric|2 g ij − ∇j |Ric|2 g ik + ∇j Rg ik − ∇k Rg ij
2 2 2 2
+2g pq Rpk ∇j Rqi − 2g pq Rpj ∇k Rqi + Rij ∇k R − Rik ∇j R .

In particular if the Cotton tensor vanishes identically along the flow we obtain,

0 = ∇k |Ric|2 g ij − ∇j |Ric|2 g ik + R∇j Rg ik − R∇k Rg ij (2.4)

pq pq
+4g Rpk ∇j Rqi − 4g Rpj ∇k Rqi + 2Rij ∇k R − 2Rik ∇j R .

Corollary 2.2. If the Cotton tensor vanishes identically along the Ricci flow of a 3–dimensional Riemannian
manifold (M 3 , g(t)), the following tensor
7 2
|Ric|2 g ij − 4Rpj Rpi + 3RRij − R g ij
8
is a Codazzi tensor (see [1, Chapter 16, Section C]).

Proof. We compute in an orthonormal basis,

4Rpk ∇j Rpi − 4 Rpj ∇k Rpi + 2Rij ∇k R − 2Rik ∇j R

= 4∇j (Rpk Rpi ) − 4∇k (Rpj Rpi ) − 4Rpi ∇j Rpk + 4Rpi ∇k Rpj + 2Rij ∇k R − 2Rik ∇j R
= 4∇j (Rpk Rpi ) − 4∇k (Rpj Rpi ) + Rpi (4Cpjk + ∇k Rg pj − ∇j Rg pk ) + 2Rij ∇k R − 2Rik ∇j R
= 4∇j (Rpk Rpi ) − 4∇k (Rpj Rpi ) + 3Rij ∇k R − 3Rik ∇j R
= 4∇j (Rpk Rpi ) − 4∇k (Rpj Rpi ) + 3∇k (RRij ) − 3∇j (RRik ) − 3R(∇k Rij − ∇j Rik )
= 4∇j (Rpk Rpi ) − 4∇k (Rpj Rpi ) + 3∇k (RRij ) − 3∇j (RRik ) − 3R(4Cijk + ∇k Rg ij − ∇j Rg ik )/4
3 3
= 4∇j (Rpk Rpi ) − 4∇k (Rpj Rpi ) + 3∇k (RRij ) − 3∇j (RRik ) − ∇k R2 g ij + ∇j R2 g ik .
8 8
Hence, we have, by the previous proposition,
7 7
0 = ∇k |Ric|2 g ij − ∇j |Ric|2 g ik + 4∇j (Rpk Rpi ) − 4∇k (Rpj Rpi ) + 3∇k (RRij ) − 3∇j (RRik ) − ∇ R2 g ij + ∇j R2 g ik ,
8 k 8
which is the thesis of the corollary.

Remark 2.3. All the traces of the 3–tensor in the LHS of equation (2.4) are zero.
Remark 2.4. From the trace–free property (1.5) of the Cotton tensor and the fact that along the Ricci flow there
holds
∂ t − ∆ g ij = 2Rij ,

we conclude that the following relations have to hold

g ij (∂ t − ∆)Cijk = −2Rij Cijk ,

g ik (∂ t − ∆)Cijk = −2Rik Cijk ,
g jk (∂ t − ∆)Cijk = −2Rjk Cijk = 0 .

They are easily verified for formula (2.3).

Corollary 2.5. During the Ricci flow of a 3–dimensional Riemannian manifold (M 3 , g(t)), the squared norm of
the Cotton tensor satisfies the following evolution equation, in an orthonormal basis,

∂ t − ∆ |Cijk |2 = −2|∇Cijk |2 − 16Cipk Ciqk Rpq + 24Cipk Ckqi Rpq + 4R|Cijk |2

+8Cijk Rpk ∇j Rpi + 4Cijk Rij ∇k R .

56 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

Proof.

∂ t − ∆ |Cijk |2 −2|∇Cijk |2 + 2Cijk Rip g pq Cqjk + 2Cijk Rjp g pq Ciqk + 2Cijk Rkp g pq Cijq


=
h
+2Cijk g pq Rpj (Ckqi + Cqki ) + 5g pq Rip Cqkj + g pq Rpk (Cjiq + Cqij )

+2RCijk + 2Rql Cqjl g ik − 2Rql Cqkl g ij

1 1 R R
+ ∇k |Ric|2 g ij − ∇j |Ric|2 g ik + ∇j Rg ik − ∇k Rg ij
2 2 2 2 i
+2g pq Rpk ∇j Rqi − 2g pq Rpj ∇k Rqi + Rij ∇k R − Rik ∇j R

= −2|∇Cijk |2 + 2(Ckij + Cjki )Rip g pq (Ckqj + Cjkq )

+2Cijk Rjp g pq Ciqk + 2Cikj Rkp g pq Ciqj
h i
+2Cijk 2g pq Rpj (Ckqi + Cqki ) + 5g pq Rip Cqkj

+4R|Cijk |2 + 8g pq Cijk Rpk ∇j Rqi + 4Cijk Rij ∇k R

= −2|∇Cijk |2 − 16Cipk Ciqk Rpq + 24Cipk Ckqi Rpq + 4R|Cijk |2
+8Cijk Rpk ∇j Rpi + 4Cijk Rij ∇k R

where in the last line we assumed to be in a orthonormal basis.

3 Three–Dimensional Gradient Ricci Solitons

The structural equation of a gradient Ricci soliton (M n , g, ∇f ) is the following

Rij + ∇i ∇j f = λg ij , (3.1)

for some λ ∈ R.
The soliton is said to be steady, shrinking or expanding according to the fact that the constant λ is zero, positive
or negative, respectively.
It follows that in dimension three, for (M 3 , g, ∇f ) there holds

∆Rij = ∇l Rij ∇l f + 2λRij − 2|Ric|2 g ij + R2 g ij − 3RRij + 4Ris Rsj (3.2)

2
∆R = ∇l R∇l f + 2λR − 2|Ric| (3.3)
∇i R = 2Rli ∇l f (3.4)
Rlk g ij Rlj g ik Rg ik Rg ij
Cijk = ∇l f − ∇l f + Rij ∇k f − Rik ∇j f + ∇j f − ∇k f (3.5)
2 2 2 2
∇k R ∇j R  R   R 
= g ij − g + Rij − g ij ∇k f − Rik − g ik ∇j f .
4 4 ik 2 2
In the special case of a steady soliton the first two equations above simplify as follows,

∆Rij = ∇l Rij ∇l f − 2|Ric|2 g ij + R2 g ij − 3RRij + 4Ris Rsj

∆R = ∇l R∇l f − 2|Ric|2 .

Remark 3.1. We notice that, by relation (3.5), we have

∇ k R∇ j f ∇ j R∇ k f R R
Cijk ∇i f = − + Rij ∇i f ∇k f − ∇j f ∇k f − Rik ∇i f ∇j f + ∇k f ∇j f
4 4 2 2
∇ j R∇ k f ∇ k R∇ j f
= − ,
4 4
where in the last passage we used relation (3.4).
It follows that
h∇f , ∇Ri |∇f |2
Cijk ∇i f ∇j f = ∇k f − ∇k R .
4 4
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 57

Hence, if the Cotton tensor of a three–dimensional gradient Ricci soliton is identically zero, we have that at
every point where ∇R is not zero, ∇f and ∇R are proportional.
This relation is a key step in (yet another) proof of the fact that a three–dimensional, locally conformally
flat, steady or shrinking gradient Ricci soliton is locally a warped product of a constant curvature surface on
a interval of R, leading to a full classification, first obtained by H.-D. Cao and Q. Chen [4] for the steady case
and H.-D. Cao, B.-L. Chen and X.-P. Zhu [3] for the shrinking case (actually this is the last paper of a series
finally classifying, in full generality, all the three-dimensional gradient shrinking Ricci solitons, even without
the LCF assumption).

Proposition 3.2. Let (M 3 , g, f ) be a three–dimensional gradient Ricci soliton. Then,

∆|Cijk |2 = ∇l |Cijk |2 ∇l f + 2|∇Cijk |2 − 2R|Cijk |2

−6Cijk Rij ∇k R + 8Cjsk Cjik Rsi − 16Cjsk Ckij Rsi − 8Cijk Rlk ∇j Ril .

Proof. First observe that

∆|Cijk |2 = 2Cijk ∆Cijk + 2|∇Cijk |2 .

Using relations (3.5), (3.2) and, repeatedly, the trace–free property (1.5) of the Cotton tensor, we have that

Cijk ∆Cijk = ∆(Rij ∇k f − Rik ∇j f )Cijk

= (∆Rij ∇k f + Rij ∆∇k f + 2∇l Rij ∇l ∇k f )Cijk
−(∆Rik ∇j f + Rik ∆∇j f + 2∇l Rik ∇l ∇j f )Cijk
= (∇s Rij ∇s f − 3RRij + 4Ris Rsj )∇k f Cijk
+Rij ∆∇k f Cijk + 2∇l Rij ∇l ∇k f Cijk
−(∇s Rik ∇s f − 3RRik + 4Ris Rsk )∇j f Cijk
−Rik ∆∇j f Cijk − 2∇l Rik ∇l ∇j f Cijk
= (∇s Rij ∇k f − ∇s Rik ∇j f )∇s f Cijk
−3R(Rij ∇k f − Rik ∇j f )Cijk
+4Ris (Rsj ∇k f − Rsk ∇j f )Cijk
+(Rij ∇l ∇l ∇k f − Rik ∇l ∇l ∇j f )Cijk
+2(∇l Rij ∇l ∇k f − ∇l Rik ∇l ∇j f )Cijk
= (∇s Rij ∇k f − ∇s Rik ∇j f )∇s f Cijk
+(−3R)|Cijk |2
+4Ris (Rsj ∇k f − Rsk ∇j f )Cijk
+(Rij ∇l ∇l ∇k f − Rik ∇l ∇l ∇j f )Cijk
+2(∇l Rij ∇l ∇k f − ∇l Rik ∇l ∇j f )Cijk ,

where we used the identity

(Rij ∇k f − Rik ∇j f )Cijk = |Cijk |2 (3.6)

which follows easily by equation (3.5) and the fact that every trace of the Cotton tensor is zero.
Using now equations (3.1), (3.5), (1.5), (1.4), and (3.4), we compute

(∇s Rij ∇k f − ∇s Rik ∇j f )∇s f Cijk
= (∇s (Rij ∇k f ) − Rij ∇s ∇k f )∇s f Cijk
−(∇s (Rik ∇j f ) − Rik ∇s ∇j f )∇s f Cijk
= (∇s (Rij ∇k f − Rik ∇j f ) + Rij (Rsk ))∇s f Cijk
−(Rik (Rsj ))∇s f Cijk
= ∇s Cijk Cijk ∇s f + Rij Rsk ∇s f Cijk − Rik Rsj ∇s f Cijk
58 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

1 1 1
= ∇s |Cijk |2 ∇s f + Rij ∇k RCijk − Rik ∇j RCijk
2 2 2

4Ris (Rsj ∇k f − Rsk ∇j f )Cijk
1 1 R R
= 4Ris (Csjk − ∇ Rg + ∇ Rg + ∇ fg − ∇ fg )C
4 k sj 4 j sk 2 k sj 2 j sk ijk
= 4Ris (−Cjks − Cksj )(−Cjki − Ckij ) − Rij ∇k RCijk
+Rik ∇j RCijk + 2RRij ∇k f Cijk − 2RRik ∇j f Cijk
= 8Ris Cjsk Cjik − 8Ris Cjsk Ckij
−Rij ∇k RCijk + Rik ∇j RCijk + 2R|Cijk |2

(Rij ∇l ∇l ∇k f − Rik ∇l ∇l ∇j f )Cijk = (Rij ∇l (−Rlk ) − Rik ∇l (−Rlj ))Cijk

1 1
= − Rij ∇k RCijk + Rik ∇j RCijk
2 2

1 1
2(∇l Rij ∇l ∇k f − ∇l Rik ∇l ∇j f )Cijk = 2((Cijl + ∇j Ril +
∇ Rg − ∇ Rg )(−Rlk ))Cijk
4 l ij 4 j il
1 1
−2((Cikl + ∇k Ril + ∇l Rg ik − ∇k Rg il )(−Rlj ))Cijk
4 4
1
= −2Cijl Cijk Rlk − 2Cijk Rlk ∇j Ril + Cijk Rik ∇j R
2
1
+2Cikl Cijk Rlj + 2Cijk Rlj ∇k Ril − Cijk Rij ∇k R
2
1
= −2Cilj Cikj Rlk − 2Cijk Rlk ∇j Ril + Cijk Rik ∇j R
2
1
−2Cilk Cijk Rlj + 2Cijk Rlj ∇k Ril − Cijk Rij ∇k R.
2
Hence, getting back to the main computation and using again the symmetry relations (1.4), we finally get
1
Cijk ∆Cijk = ∇s |Cijk |2 ∇s f − R|Cijk |2
2
3 3
− Cijk Rij ∇k R + Cijk Rik ∇j R
2 2
+4Cjsk Cjik Rsi − 8Cjsk Ckij Rsi
−2Cijk Rlk ∇j Ril + 2Cijk Rlj ∇k Ril
1
= ∇s |Cijk |2 ∇s f − R|Cijk |2
2
−3Cijk Rij ∇k R + 4Cjsk Cjik Rsi − 8Cjsk Ckij Rsi − 4Cijk Rlk ∇j Ril
where in the last passage we applied the skew–symmetry of the Cotton tensor in its last two indexes. The
thesis follows.

4 The Evolution Equation of the Cotton Tensor in any Dimension

In this section we will compute the evolution equation under the Ricci flow of the Cotton tensor Cijk , for every
n–dimensional Riemannian manifold (M n , g(t)) evolving by Ricci flow.
Among the evolution equations (1.6) we expand the one for the Ricci tensor,
∂ 2n pq 2n 2
R = ∆Rij − g Rip Rjq + RRij + |Ric|2 g ij
∂t ij n−2 (n − 1)(n − 2) n −2
2
− R2 g ij − 2Rpq Wpijq .
(n − 1)(n − 2)
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 59

Then, we compute the evolution equations of the derivatives of the curvatures assuming, from now on, to be
in normal coordinates,

∂
∇R = ∇l ∆R + 2∇l |Ric|2 ,
∂t l

∂ 2n 2n 2n
∇s Rij = ∇s ∆Rij − ∇s Rip Rjp − R ∇s Rjp + ∇s RRij
∂t n−2 n − 2 ip (n − 1)(n − 2)
2n 2 2
+ R∇s Rij + ∇s |Ric|2 g ij − ∇s R2 g ij
(n − 1)(n − 2) n−2 (n − 1)(n − 2)
−2∇s Rkl Wkijl − 2Rkl ∇s Wkijl + (∇i Rsp + ∇s Rip − ∇p Ris )Rjp
+(∇j Rsp + ∇s Rjp − ∇p Rjs )Rip
n+2 n+2 2n
= ∇s ∆Rij − ∇s Rip Rjp − R ∇s Rjp + ∇s RRij
n−2 n − 2 ip (n − 1)(n − 2)
2n 2 2
+ R∇s Rij + ∇s |Ric|2 g ij − ∇s R2 g ij
(n − 1)(n − 2) n−2 (n − 1)(n − 2)
−2∇s Rkl Wkijl − 2Rkl ∇s Wkijl + (∇i Rsp − ∇p Ris )Rjp + (∇j Rsp − ∇p Rjs )Rip
n+2 n+2 2n
= ∇s ∆Rij − ∇s Rip Rjp − R ∇s Rjp + ∇s RRij
n−2 n − 2 ip (n − 1)(n − 2)
2n 2 2
+ R∇s Rij + ∇s |Ric|2 g ij − ∇s R2 g ij
(n − 1)(n − 2) n−2 (n − 1)(n − 2)
−2∇s Rkl Wkijl − 2Rkl ∇s Wkijl + Cspi Rjp + Cspj Rip
1 1
+ R [∇ Rg sp − ∇p Rg is ] + R [∇ Rg sp − ∇p Rg js ] ,
2(n − 1) jp i 2(n − 1) ip j

where in the last passage we substituted the expression of the Cotton tensor.
We then compute,

∂ ∂ ∂ 1 ∂

C = ∇k Rij − ∇j Rik − ∇k Rg ij − ∇j Rg ik
∂t ijk ∂t ∂t 2(n − 1) ∂t
n+2 n+2 2n
= ∇k ∆Rij − ∇ R R − R ∇ R + ∇ RR
n − 2 k ip jp n − 2 ip k jp (n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
2n 2 2
+ R∇k Rij + ∇ |Ric|2 g ij − ∇ R2 g ij
(n − 1)(n − 2) n−2 k (n − 1)(n − 2) k
−2∇k Rpl Wpijl − 2Rpl ∇k Wpijl + Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip
Rjp Rip
+ [∇i Rg kp − ∇p Rg ik ] + [∇ Rg − ∇p Rg jk ]
2(n − 1) 2(n − 1) j kp
n+2 n+2 2n
−∇j ∆Rik + ∇R R + R ∇R − ∇ RR
n − 2 j ip kp n − 2 ip j kp (n − 1)(n − 2) j ik
2n 2 2
− R∇j Rik − ∇ |Ric|2 g ik + ∇ R2 g ik
(n − 1)(n − 2) n−2 j n−1 j
−2∇k Rpl Wpijl − 2Rpl ∇k Wpijl − Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip
Rkp Rip
− [∇i Rg jp − ∇p Rg ij ] − [∇ Rg − ∇p Rg kj ]
2(n − 1) 2(n − 1) k jp
1

+ (R ∇ R − Rik ∇j R
n − 1 ij k

g ij
g ik
− ∇k ∆R + 2∇k |Ric|2 + ∇j ∆R + 2∇j |Ric|2
2(n − 1) 2(n − 1)
n+2 n+2
= ∇k ∆Rij − ∇ R R − R ∇ R
n − 2 k ip jp n − 2 ip k jp
5n − 2 2n
+ ∇ RR + R∇k Rij
2(n − 1)(n − 2) k ij (n − 1)(n − 2)
n 2
+ ∇ |Ric|2 g ij − ∇ R2 g ij
(n − 1)(n − 2) k (n − 1)(n − 2) k
+Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip − 2∇k Rpl Wpijl − 2Rpl ∇k Wpijl
60 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

1
− R ∇p Rg ik
2(n − 1) pj
n+2 n+2
−∇j ∆Rik + ∇R R + R ∇R
n − 2 j ip kp n − 2 ip j kp
5n − 2 2n
− ∇ RR − R∇j Rik
2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik (n − 1)(n − 2)
n 2
− ∇ |Ric|2 g ik + ∇ R2 g ik
(n − 1)(n − 2) j (n − 1)(n − 2) j
−Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip + 2∇j Rpl Wpikl + 2Rpl ∇j Wpikl
1 1 1
+ ∇l RRlk g ij − ∇k ∆Rg ij + ∇ ∆Rg ik
2(n − 1) 2(n − 1) 2(n − 1) j
and
1 1
∆Cijk = ∆∇k Rij − ∆∇j Rik − ∆∇k Rg ij + ∆∇j Rg ik ,
2(n − 1) 2(n − 1)
hence,
∂
C − ∆Cijk = ∇k ∆Rij − ∇j ∆Rik − ∆∇k Rij + ∆∇j Rik
∂t ijk
1
− (∇ ∆Rg ij − ∇j ∆Rg ik − ∆∇k Rg ij + ∆∇j Rg ik )
2(n − 1) k
n+2 5n − 2
− (∇ R R + Rip ∇k Rjp ) + ∇ RR
n − 2 k ip jp 2(n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
2n
+ R∇k Rij
(n − 1)(n − 2)
n 2
+ ∇ |Ric|2 g ij − ∇ R2 g ij
(n − 1)(n − 2) k (n − 1)(n − 2) k
+Ckpi Rjp + Ckpj Rip − 2∇k Rpl Wpijl − 2Rpl ∇k Wpijl
1
− R ∇p Rg ik
2(n − 1) jp
n+2 5n − 2
+ (∇ R R + Rip ∇j Rkp ) − ∇ RR
n − 2 j ip kp 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik
2n
− R∇j Rik
(n − 1)(n − 2)
n 2
− ∇ |Ric|2 g ik + ∇ R2 g ik
(n − 1)(n − 2) j (n − 1)(n − 2) j
−Cjpi Rkp − Cjpk Rip + 2∇j Rpl Wpikl + 2Rpl ∇j Wpikl
1
+ R ∇p Rg ij
2(n − 1) kp
Now to proceed, we need the following commutation rules for the derivatives of the Ricci tensor and of
the scalar curvature, where we will employ the decomposition formula of the Riemann tensor (1.1).

∇k ∆Rij − ∆∇k Rij = ∇3kll Rij − ∇3lkl Rij + ∇3lkl Rij − ∇3llk Rij
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + Rklip ∇l Rjp + Rkljp ∇l Rip
+∇3lkl Rij − ∇3llk Rij
1
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + (R ∇ R + Rjk ∇i R)
2(n − 2) ik j
1
− (R ∇ R + Rkp ∇j Rip − Rlp ∇l Rjp g ik − Rlp ∇l Rip g jk )
n − 2 kp i jp
1 1
− (R ∇ R + Rlj ∇l Rik ) − (R∇j Rg ik + R∇i Rg jk )
n − 2 li l jk 2(n − 1)(n − 2)
1
+ (R∇i Rjk + R∇j Rik )
(n − 1)(n − 2)


+∇l Rklip Rpj + Rkljp Rpi
+Wkljp ∇l Rip + Wklip ∇j Rjp
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 61

1
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + (R ∇ R + Rjk ∇i R)
2(n − 2) ik j
1
− (R ∇ R + Rkp ∇j Rip − Rlp ∇l Rjp g ik − Rlp ∇l Rip g jk )
n − 2 kp i jp
1 1
− (R ∇ R + Rlj ∇l Rik ) − (R∇j Rg ik + R∇i Rg jk )
n − 2 li l jk 2(n − 1)(n − 2)
1
+ (R∇i Rjk + R∇j Rik )
(n − 1)(n − 2)
 1
+∇l (R g R + Rpl g ki Rpj − Rli g kp Rpj − Rkp g li Rpj )
n − 2 ki pl pj
1
− (RRpj g ki g lp − RRpj g kp g il ) + Wklip Rpj
(n − 1)(n − 2)
1
+ (R g R + Rlp g kj Rpi − Rlj g kp Rpi − Rkp g lj Rpi )
n − 2 kj lp pi
1 
− (RRpi g kj g pl − RRpi g kp g lj ) + Wkljp Rpi
(n − 1)(n − 2)
+Wkljp ∇l Rip + Wklip ∇j Rjp
1
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + (R ∇ R + Rjk ∇i R)
2(n − 2) ik j
1
− (R ∇ R + Rkp ∇j Rip − Rlp ∇l Rjp g ik − Rlp ∇l Rip g jk )
n − 2 kp i jp
1 1
− (R ∇ R + Rlj ∇l Rik ) − (R∇j Rg ik + R∇i Rg jk )
n − 2 li l jk 2(n − 1)(n − 2)
1
+ (R∇i Rjk + R∇j Rik )
(n − 1)(n − 2)
1
+ (∇p Rki Rpj + Rki ∇j R/2 + ∇p Rg ki Rpj /2
n−2
+Rlp ∇l Rpj g ik − ∇i RRjk /2 − Rpi ∇p Rkj − ∇i Rkp Rpj
−Rkp ∇i Rpj )
1
− (∇p RRpj g ik + R∇j Rg ik /2 − ∇i RRkj − R∇i Rjk )
(n − 1)(n − 2)
n−3
+ C R + Wklip ∇l Rpj
n − 2 kip pj
1
+ (∇p Rkj Rpi + Rkj ∇i R/2 + ∇p Rg kj Rpi /2
n−2
+Rlp g kj ∇l Rpi − ∇j RRki /2 − Rpj ∇p Rki − ∇j Rkp Rpi − Rkp ∇j Rpi )
1
− (∇p RRpi g kj + R∇i Rg jk /2 − ∇j RRki − R∇j Rki )
(n − 1)(n − 2)
n−3
+ C R + Wkljp ∇l Rpi
n − 2 kjp pi
+Wkljp ∇l Rip + Wklip ∇j Rjp
n+1 2
= −Rkp ∇p Rij + R ∇ R− R ∇R
2(n − 1)(n − 2) kj i n − 2 kp j ip
2 1 1
+ R ∇R g − R ∇p Rik − R∇i Rg jk
n − 2 lp l pi jk n − 2 pj (n − 1)(n − 2)
2 n+1 2
+ R∇j Rik + ∇ RR − R ∇R
(n − 1)(n − 2) 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ki n − 2 kp i jp
2 1 1
+ R ∇R g − R ∇p Rjk − R∇j Rg ik
n − 2 lp l pj ik n − 2 pi (n − 1)(n − 2)
2
+ R∇i Rjk + 2Wkljp ∇l Rpi + 2Wklip ∇l Rpj
(n − 1)(n − 2)
n−3
+ (∇p Rg ik Rpj + ∇p Rg jk Rpi )
2(n − 1)(n − 2)
n−3 1
+ (C R + Ckjp Rpi ) − (∇ R R + ∇j Rkp Rpi )
n − 2 kip pj n − 2 i kp pj
62 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

and
∇k ∆R − ∆∇k R = Rkllp ∇p R = −Rkp ∇p R .

Then, getting back to the main computation, we obtain

∂ n+1
C − ∆Cijk = −Rkp ∇p Rij + R ∇R
∂t ijk 2(n − 1)(n − 2) kj i
2 2
− R ∇R + R ∇R g
n − 2 kp j ip n − 2 lp l pi jk
1 1
− R ∇p Rik − R∇i Rg jk
n − 2 jp (n − 1)(n − 2)
2 n+1
+ R∇j Rik + ∇ RR
(n − 1)(n − 2) 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ki
2 2
− R ∇R + R ∇R g
n − 2 kp i pj n − 2 lp l pj ik
1 1
− R ∇p Rkj − R∇j Rg ik
n − 2 pi (n − 1)(n − 2)
2
+ R∇i Rjk + 2Wkljp ∇l Rpi + 2Wklip ∇l Rpj
(n − 1)(n − 2)
n−3
+ (∇p Rg ik Rpj + ∇p Rg jk Rpi )
2(n − 1)(n − 2)
n−3
+ (C R + Ckjp Rpi )
n − 2 kip pj
1
− (∇ R R + ∇j Rkp Rpi )
n − 2 i kp jp
n+1 2
+Rjp ∇p Rik − R ∇ R+ R ∇ R
2(n − 1)(n − 2) kj i n − 2 jp k ip
2 1
− R ∇R g + R ∇p Rij
n − 2 lp l pi kj n − 2 pk
1 2
+ R∇i Rg jk − R∇k Rij
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
n+1 2
− ∇ RR + R ∇R
2(n − 1)(n − 2) k ij n − 2 jp i kp
2 1
− R ∇p Rpk g ij + R ∇p Rkj
n − 2 lp n − 2 pi
1 2
+ R∇k Rg ij − R∇i Rkj
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
−2Wjlkp ∇l Rpi − 2Wjlip ∇l Rpk
n−3
− (∇p Rg ij Rpk + ∇p Rg jk Rpi )
2(n − 2)(n − 2)
n−3 1
− (C R + Cjkp Rpi ) + (∇ R R + ∇k Rjp Rpi )
n − 2 jip pk n − 2 i pj pk
1 n+2
+ (R ∇p Rg ij − Rjp ∇p Rg ki ) − (∇ R R + Rpi ∇k Rpj )
2(n − 1) kp n − 2 k pi pj
n 5n − 2
+ ∇ |Ric|2 g ij + ∇ RR
(n − 1)(n − 2) k 2(n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
2n 2
+ R∇k Rij − ∇ R2 g ij
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2) k
−2∇k Rpl Wpijl − 2Rpl ∇k Wpijl
1
+Ckli Rlj − ∇ RR g + Cklj Rli
2(n − 1) l lj ik
n+2
+ (∇ R R + Rpi ∇j Rpk )
n − 2 j pi pk
n 5n − 2
− ∇j |Ric|2 g ki − ∇ RR
(n − 1)(n − 2) 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik
2n 2
− R∇j Rik + ∇ R2 g ik
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2) j
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 63

+2∇j Rpl Wpikl + 2Rpl ∇j Wpikl

1
−Cjli Rlk + ∇ RR g − Cjlk Rli
2(n − 1) l lk ij
1
= (R C + Rpk Cjip − Ckip Rpj − Ckjp Rpi )
n − 2 pi jkp
h 2 3
+ R ∇R + ∇ R2
n − 2 lp l pj 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j
1 n i
− ∇p RRpj − ∇j |Ric|2 g ik
2(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
h 2 3
− R ∇R + ∇ R2
n − 2 lp l pk 2(n − 1)(n − 2) k
1 n i
− ∇p RRpk − ∇k |Ric|2 g ij
2(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
n−3 n−3
− R ∇p Rij + R ∇p Rik
n − 2 kp n − 2 pj
n n+1 2
+ R ∇R + ∇R R − R∇j Rik
n − 2 kp j pi n − 2 j pk pi n − 2
4n − 3 1 1
− ∇ RR − R ∇R + R ∇R
2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik n − 2 kp i pj n − 2 pj i pk
n n+1 2
− R ∇ R − ∇ R R + R∇k Rij
n − 2 jp k ip n − 2 k jp ip n − 2
4n − 3
+ ∇ RR + 2Wklip ∇l Rpj + 2Wkljp ∇l Rpi − 2Wjlkp ∇l Rpi
2(n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
−2Wjlip ∇l Rpk − 2∇k Rpl Wpijl − 2Rpl ∇k Wpijl + 2∇j Rpl Wpikl + 2Rpl ∇j Wpikl
Now, by means of the very definition of the Cotton tensor (1.2), the identities (1.4), and the symmetries of
the Weyl tensor, we substitute
Ckpj − Cjpk = − Ckjp − Cjpk = Cpkj
1

∇l Rjp = ∇j Rlp + Cpjl + ∇ Rg − ∇j Rg pl
2(n − 1) l pj
1

∇l Rkp = ∇k Rlp + Cpkl + ∇ Rg − ∇k Rg pl
2(n − 1) l pk
1

∇i Rjp = ∇j Rip + Cpji + ∇ Rg − ∇j Rg ip
2(n − 1) i jp
1

∇i Rkp = ∇k Rip + Cpki + ∇ Rg − ∇k Rg ip
2(n − 1) i kp
1

∇p Rij = ∇j Rpi + Cijp + ∇p Rg ji − ∇j Rg pi
2(n − 1)
1

∇p Rik = ∇k Rpi + Cikp + ∇p Rg ki − ∇k Rg pi
2(n − 1)
in the last expression above, getting
∂ 1
C − ∆Cijk = (R C + Rpk Cjip − Ckip Rpj )
∂t ijk n − 2 pi pkj
h 2  1
+ Rlp ∇j Rlp + Cpjl + ∇ Rg
n−2 2(n − 1) l pj
1  3
− ∇ Rg ) + ∇ R2
2(n − 1) j pl 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j
1 n i
− ∇p RRpj − ∇j |Ric|2 g ik
2(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
h 2  1
− R ∇k Rpl + Cpkl + ∇ Rg
n − 2 lp 2(n − 1) l pk
1  3
− ∇k Rg pl + ∇ R2
2(n − 1) 2(n − 1)(n − 2) k
1 n i
− ∇p RRpk − ∇k |Ric|2 g ij
2(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
64 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

n−3  1 
− Rkp Cijp + ∇j Rip + (∇p Rg ij − ∇j Rg ip )
n−2 2(n − 1)
n−3  1 
+ Rpj Cikp + ∇k Rip + (∇p Rg ik − ∇k Rg ip )
n−2 2(n − 1)
n n+1 2
+ R ∇R + ∇R R − R∇j Rik
n − 2 kp j pi n − 2 j pk pi n − 2
4n − 3
− ∇ RR
2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik
1  1 
− Rkp ∇j Rip + Cpji + (∇i Rg jp − ∇j Rg ip )
n−2 2(n − 1)
1  1 
+ Rpj ∇k Rip + Ckpi + (∇i Rg kp − ∇k Rg ip )
n−2 2(n − 1)
n n+1 2
− R ∇ R − ∇ R R + R∇k Rij
n − 2 jp k ip n − 2 k jp ip n − 2
4n − 3
+ ∇ RR
2(n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
+2Cplj Wpikl − 2Cplk Wpijl − 2Cpil Wjklp
−2Wjklp ∇i Rpl − 2Rpl ∇k Wpijl + 2Rpl ∇j Wpikl
1

= R C + Rpk (Cjip − Cpji − (n − 3)Cijp ) + Rpj (Cpki − Ckip + (n − 3)Cikp )
n − 2 pi pkj
2 2
+ C R g − C R g − 2Cpjl Wpikl + 2Cpkl Wpijl − 2Cpil Wjklp
n − 2 pjl pl ik n − 2 pkl pl ij
h ∇ j R2 1 i
+g ik − ∇j |Ric|2
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
∇ k R2 1
h i
−g ij − ∇k |Ric|2
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
2 n+1 3n − 1 2
− R ∇ R − ∇ R R + ∇ RR + R∇k Rij
n − 2 jp k ip n − 2 k jp ip 2(n − 1)(n − 2) k ij n − 2
2 n+1 3n − 1 2
+ R ∇R + ∇R R − ∇ RR − R∇j Rik
n − 2 kp j ip n − 2 j kp ip 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik n − 2
−2Wjklp ∇i Rlp − 2Rlp ∇k Wpijl + 2Rpl ∇j Wpikl .

then, we substitute again

1

∇k Rjp = ∇p Rkj + Cjpk + ∇ Rg − ∇p Rg jk
2(n − 1) k jp
1

∇j Rkp = ∇p Rjk + Ckpj + ∇ Rg − ∇p Rg kj
2(n − 1) j kp
1

∇k Rij = ∇i Rkj + Cjik + ∇ Rg − ∇i Rg jk
2(n − 1) k ij
1

∇j Rik = ∇i Rjk + Ckij + ∇ Rg − ∇i Rg kj ,
2(n − 1) j ik
finally obtaining
∂ 1

C − ∆Cijk = R C + Rpk (Cjip − Cpji − (n − 3)Cijp ) + Rpj (Cpki − Ckip + (n − 3)Cikp )
∂t ijk n − 2 pi pkj
2 2
+ C R g − C R g − 2Cpjl Wpikl + 2Cpkl Wpijl − 2Cpil Wjklp
n − 2 pjl pl ik n − 2 pkl pl ij
h ∇ j R2 1 i
+g ik − ∇j |Ric|2
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
∇ k R2 1
h i
−g ij − ∇k |Ric|2
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
2 n+1 n+1
− R ∇ R − R ∇p Rkj − R C
n − 2 jp k ip n − 2 ip n − 2 ip jpk
n+1 n+1
− Rij ∇k R + R ∇p Rg jk
2(n − 1)(n − 2) 2(n − 1)(n − 2) ip
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 65

3n − 1 2 1
+ ∇ RR + R(∇i Rjk + Cjik + (∇ Rg − ∇i Rg jk ))
2(n − 1)(n − 2) k ij n − 2 2(n − 1) k ij
2 n+1 n+1 n+1
+ R ∇R + R ∇p Rkj + R C + ∇ RR
n − 2 kp j ip n − 2 ip n − 2 ip kpj 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik
n+1 3n − 1
− R ∇p Rg jk − ∇ RR
2(n − 1)(n − 2) ip 2(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik
2 1
− R(∇i Rjk + Ckij + (∇ Rg − ∇i Rg jk ))
n−2 2(n − 1) j ik
−2Wjklp ∇i Rlp − 2Rlp ∇k Wpijl + 2Rpl ∇j Wpikl
1
= (R (C − Cpji − (n − 3)Cijp ) − Rpj (Ckip − Cpki − (n − 3)Cikp )
n − 2 pk jip
2 2
+(n + 2)Rpi Cpkj ) + (C R g − Cpkl Rpl g ij ) + RC
n − 2 pjl pl ik n − 2 ijk
−2Wpikl Cpjl + 2Wpijl Cpkl − 2Cpil Wjklp
h ∇ j R2 1 i
+g ik − ∇j |Ric|2
2(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
∇ k R2 1
h i
−g ij − ∇k |Ric|2
2(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2)
2 1
− R ∇ R + ∇ RR
n − 2 jp k ip n − 2 k ij
2 1
+ R ∇R − ∇ RR
n − 2 kp j ip n − 2 j ik
+2Rlp ∇j Wpikl − 2Rlp ∇k Wpijl ,

where in the last passage we used again the identities (1.4) and the fact that

Wjklp ∇i Rlp = Wjkpl ∇i Rpl = Wjkpl ∇i Rlp = −Wjklp ∇i Rlp .

Hence, we can resume this long computation in the following proposition, getting back to a generic co-
ordinate basis.

Proposition 4.1. During the Ricci flow of a n–dimensional Riemannian manifold (M n , g(t)), the Cotton tensor
satisfies the following evolution equation

1  pq
∂ t − ∆ Cijk = g Rpj (Ckqi + Cqki + (n − 3)Cikq )
n−2
+(n + 2)g pq Rip Cqkj − g pq Rpk (Cjqi + Cqji + (n − 3)Cijq )


2 2 2
+ RC + Rql Cqjl g ik − Rql Cqkl g ij
n − 2 ijk n − 2 n−2
1 1
+ ∇ |Ric|2 g ij − ∇ |Ric|2 g ik
(n − 1)(n − 2) k (n − 1)(n − 2) j
R R
+ ∇ Rg − ∇ Rg
(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik (n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
2 pq 2 pq 1 1
+ g Rpk ∇j Rqi − g Rpj ∇k Rqi + R ∇ R− R ∇R
n−2 n−2 n − 2 ij k n − 2 ik j
−2g pq Wpikl Cqjl + 2g pq Wpijl Cqkl − 2g pq Wjklp Cqil + 2g pq Rpl ∇j Wqikl − 2g pq Rpl ∇k Wqijl .

In particular if the Cotton tensor vanishes identically along the flow we obtain,

1 1
0 = ∇ |Ric|2 g ij − ∇ |Ric|2 g ik
(n − 1)(n − 2) k (n − 1)(n − 2) j
R R
+ ∇ Rg − ∇ Rg
(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik (n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
2 pq 2 pq 1 1
+ g Rpk ∇j Rqi − g Rpj ∇k Rqi + R ∇ R− R ∇R
n−2 n−2 n − 2 ij k n − 2 ik j
+2g pq Rpl ∇j Wqikl − 2g pq Rpl ∇k Wqijl ,
66 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

while, in virtue of relation (1.3), if the Weyl tensor vanishes along the flow we obtain (compare with [5, Proposi-
tion 1.1 and Corollary 1.2])
1 1
0 = ∇ |Ric|2 g ij − ∇ |Ric|2 g ik
(n − 1)(n − 2) k (n − 1)(n − 2) j
R R
+ ∇ Rg − ∇ Rg
(n − 1)(n − 2) j ik (n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
2 pq 2 pq 1 1
+ g Rpk ∇j Rqi − g Rpj ∇k Rqi + R ∇ R− R ∇ R.
n−2 n−2 n − 2 ij k n − 2 ik j

Corollary 4.2. During the Ricci flow of a n–dimensional Riemannian manifold (M n , g(t)), the squared norm of
the Cotton tensor satisfies the following evolution equation, in an orthonormal basis,
16 24
∂ t − ∆ |Cijk |2 −2|∇Cijk |2 −


= C C Rpq + C C Rpq
n − 2 ipk iqk n − 2 ipk kqi
4 8 4
+ R|Cijk |2 + C R ∇R + C R ∇ R
n−2 n − 2 ijk pk j pi n − 2 ijk ij k
+8Cijk Rlp ∇j Wpikl − 8Cijk Cpjl Wpikl − 4Cjpi Cljk Wpikl .

∂ t − ∆ |Cijk |2 −2|∇Cijk |2 + 2Cijk Rip g pq Cqjk + 2Cijk Rjp g pq Ciqk + 2Cijk Rkp g pq Ciqk


=
h 1 
+2Cijk (Rpj (Ckpi + Cpki + (n − 3)Cikp )
n−2
+(n + 2)Rpi Cpkj − Rpk (Cjpi + Cpji + (n − 3)Cijp ))
2 2 2
+ RC + R C g − R C g
n − 2 ijk n − 2 ql qjl ik n − 2 ql qkl ij
1 1
+ ∇ |Ric|2 g ij − ∇ |Ric|2 g ik
(n − 1)(n − 2) k (n − 1)(n − 2) j
R R
+ ∇j Rg ik − ∇ Rg
(n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2) k ij
2 2 1 1
+ R ∇R − R ∇ R + R ∇ R− R ∇R
n − 2 qk j qi n − 2 qj k qi n − 2 ij k n − 2 ik j i
−2Wpikl Cpjl + 2Wpijl Cpkl − 2Wjklp Cpil + 2Rpl ∇j Wpikl − 2Rpl ∇k Wpikl
16 24
= −2|∇Cijk |2 − C C Rpq + C C Rpq
n − 2 ipk iqk n − 2 ipk kqi
4 8 4
+ R|Cijk |2 + C R ∇R + C R ∇ R
n−2 n − 2 ijk pk j pi n − 2 ijk ij k
+8Cijk Rlp ∇j Wpikl − 8Cijk Cpjl Wpikl − 4Cjpi Cljk Wpikl .

Remark 4.3. Notice that if n = 3 the two formulas in Proposition 4.1 and Corollary 4.2 become the ones in
Proposition 2.1 and Corollary 2.5.

5 The Bach Tensor

The Bach tensor in dimension three is given by

Bik = ∇j Cijk .
1
Let Sij = Rij − 2(n−1)
Rg ij be the Schouten tensor, then

Bik = ∇j Cijk = ∇j (∇k Sij − ∇j Sik ) = ∇j ∇k Sij − ∆Sik . (5.1)

We compute, in generic dimension n,

1
∇j Cijk = ∇j ∇k Rij − ∇ ∇ Rg − ∆Sik
2(n − 1) j k ij
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 67

1
= +Rjkil Rjl + Rjkjl Ril + ∇k ∇j Rij − ∇ ∇ Rg − ∆Sik
2(n − 1) k j ij
 
1 R
= + Rij g kl − Rjl g ki + Rkl g ij − Rki g jl − (g ij g kl − g jl g ki ) Rjl + Wjkil Rjl
n−2 (n − 1)
1 1
+Rkl Ril + ∇k ∇i R − ∇ ∇ R − ∆Sik
2 2(n − 1) k i
1 R R2
= + (Rji Rjk − |Ric|2 g ik + Rkl Ril − RRik ) − Rik + g
n−2 (n − 1)(n − 2) (n − 1)(n − 2) ik
n−2
+Wjkil Rjl + Rkl Ril + ∇ ∇ R − ∆Sik
2(n − 1) k i
n n 1 R2
= Rij Rkj − RRik − |Ric|2 g ik + g
n−2 (n − 1)(n − 2) n−2 (n − 1)(n − 2) ik
n−2
+Wjkil Rjl + ∇ ∇ R − ∆Sik .
2(n − 1) k i
From this last expression, it is easy to see that the Bach tensor in dimension 3 is symmetric, i.e. Bik = Bki .
Moreover, it is trace–free, that is, g ik Bik = 0 as g ik ∇Cijk = 0.
Remark 5.1. In higher dimension, the Bach tensor is given by
1
Bik =(∇ C − Rjl Wijkl ) .
n − 2 j ijk
We note that, since Rjl Wijkl = Rjl Wklij = Rjl Wkjil , from the above computation we get that the Bach tensor
is symmetric in any dimension; finally, as the Weyl tensor is trace-free in every pair of indexes, there holds
g ik Bik = 0.
We recall that Schur lemma yields the following equation for the divergence of the Schouten tensor
n−2
∇j Sij = ∇ R. (5.2)
2(n − 1) i
We write
∇k ∇j Cijk = ∇k ∇j ∇k Sij − ∇k ∇j ∇j Sik = [∇j , ∇k ]∇j Sik ,
therefore,
∇k ∇j Cijk = Rjkjl ∇l Sik + Rjkil ∇j Slk + Rjkkl ∇j Sli
= Rkl ∇l Sik + Rjkil ∇j Slk − Rjl ∇j Sli
 
1 1
= (Rij g kl − Rjl g ik + Rkl g ij − Rik g jl ) − R(g ij g kl − g ik g jl ) + Wjkil ∇j Slk
n−2 (n − 1)(n − 2)
1
= (−Rjl ∇j Sil + Rkl ∇i Skl ) + Wjkil ∇j Slk
n−2
1
= R (∇ S − ∇j Sil ) + Wjkil ∇j Rkl
n − 2 jl i lj
1
= R C + Wiljk ∇j Rkl ,
n − 2 jl lji
where we repeatedly used equation (5.2), the trace–free property of the Weyl tensor and the definition of the
Cotton tensor.
Recalling that
n−3 n−3
∇k Wijkl = ∇k Wklij = − C = C ,
n − 2 lij n − 2 lji
the divergence of the Bach tensor is given by
1 1 n−3
∇k Bik = ∇ (∇ C − Rjl Wijkl ) = R C − C R
n − 2 k j ijk (n − 2)2 jl jli (n − 2)2 jli jl
n−4
= − C R .
(n − 2)2 jli jl
In particular, for n = 3, we obtain ∇k Bik = ∇k Bki = Rjl Cjli and, for n = 4, we get the classical result ∇k Bik =
∇k Bki = 0.
68 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

5.1 The Evolution Equation of the Bach Tensor in 3D

We turn now our attention to the evolution of the Bach tensor along the Ricci flow in dimension three. In
order to obtain its evolution equation, instead of calculating directly the time derivative and the Laplacian of
the Bach tensor, we employ the following equation

(∂ t − ∆)Bik = ∇j (∂ t − ∆)Cijk − [∆, ∇j ]Cijk + 2Rpj ∇p Cijk + [∂ t , ∇j ]C ijk , (5.3)

which relates the quantity we want to compute with the evolution of the Cotton tensor, the evolution of the
Christoffel symbols and the formulas for the exchange of covariant derivatives. We will work on the various
terms separately.
By the commutations formulas for derivatives, we have

∇l ∇l ∇q Cijk − ∇l ∇q ∇l Cijk = ∇l (Rlqip Cpjk + Rlqjp Cipk + Rlqkp Cijp )

∇l ∇q ∇s Cijk − ∇q ∇l ∇s Cijk = Rlqsp ∇p Cijk + Rlqip ∇s Cpjk + Rlqjp ∇s Cipk + Rlqkp ∇s Cijp ,

and putting these together with q = j and l = s, we get

[∆, ∇j ]Cijk = ∇l (Rljip Cpjk − Rlp Cipk + Rljkp Cijp )

+Rjp ∇p Cijk + Rljip ∇l Cpjk − Rlp ∇l Cipk + Rljkp ∇l Cijp
 
R
= ∇l Rli g jp − Rlp g ji + Rjp g li − Rji g lp − (g li g jp − g lp g ji ) Cpjk
2
  
R
−Rlp Cipk + Rlk g jp − Rlp g jk + Rjp g lk − Rjk g lp − (g lk g jp − g lp g jk ) Cijp
2
+Rjp ∇p Cijk + Rljip ∇l Cpjk − Rlp ∇l Cipk + Rljkp ∇l Cijp
1
= − ∇p RCpik − Rlp ∇l Cpik + ∇i Rjp Cpjk + Rjp ∇i Cpjk − ∇p Rji Cpjk − Rji ∇p Cpjk
2
1 R 1 1
+ ∇p RCpik + ∇p Cpik − ∇p RCipk − Rlp ∇l Cipk − ∇p RCikp − Rlp ∇l Cikp
2 2 2 2
1 R
+∇k Rjp Cijp + Rjp ∇k Cijp − ∇p Rjk Cijp − Rjk ∇p Cijp + ∇p RCikp + ∇p Cikp
2 2
R
+Rjp ∇p Cijk − Rlp ∇l Cpik + Rjp ∇i Cpjk − Rji ∇p Cpjk + ∇p Cpik
2
R
−Rlp ∇l Cipk − Rlp ∇l Cikp + Rjp ∇k Cijp − Rjk ∇p Cijp + ∇p Cikp
2
= ∇i Rjp Cpjk − ∇p Rji Cijp − ∇p Rjk Cijp − ∇p Rjk Cijp − 2Rlp ∇l Cpik
1
+2Rlp ∇i Cplk − 2Rji ∇p Cpjk + R∇p Cpik + ∇p RCikp + 2Rjp ∇k Cijp
2
−2Rjk ∇p Cijp + R∇p Cikp + Rjp ∇p Cijk
= ∇i Rlp Cplk − ∇p Rli Cplk + ∇k Rlp Cilp − ∇p Rlk Cilp
−2Rlp ∇l Cpik + 2Rlp ∇i Cplk + 2Rli Bkl − 2Rli Blk + 2Rlp ∇k Cilp
1
+2Rlk Bil + Rlp ∇p Cilk − RBik + ∇p RCikp + RBik − RBik
2
= ∇i Rlp Cplk − ∇p Rli Cplk + ∇k Rlp Cilp − ∇p Rlk Cilp
+Rlp ∇p Cilk + 2Rlp ∇i Cplk + 2Rlp ∇k Cilp − 2Rlp ∇l Cipk
1
+ ∇p RCikp + 2Rlk Bil − RBik .
2
The covariant derivative of the evolution of the Cotton tensor is given by
5
∇j (∂ t − ∆)Cijk = ∇p RCipk + ∇p RCpki + Rlp ∇p Ckli + Rlp ∇p Clki − ∇p Rkl Cpli
2
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 69

−∇p Rkl Clpi − Rkp Bpi + 5∇p Ril Clkp − 5Rip Bpk + 2RBik
+2∇s Rpl Cpsl g ik + 2Rpl Bpl g ik − 2∇i Rpl Cpkl − 2Rpl ∇i Cpkl
1 1
+ (|∇R|2 + R∆R − ∆|Ric|2 )g ik − (∇i R∇k R + R∇i ∇k R − ∇i ∇k |Ric|2 )
2 2
+2∆Rip Rkp + 2∇l Rip ∇l Rkp − 2∇l ∇k Rip Rlp − ∇k Rip ∇p R
1
+∇l ∇k RRil + ∇k R∇i R − ∆RRik − ∇l R∇l Rik .
2
Finally, the commutator between the covariant derivative and the time derivative can be expressed in terms
of the time derivatives of the Christoffel symbols, as follows
[∂ t , ∇j ]Cijk = −∂ t Γ ijp Cpjk − ∂ t Γ jk
p
Cijp
= ∇i Rjp Cpjk + ∇j Rip Cpjk − ∇p Rij Cpjk + ∇j Rkp Cijp + ∇k Rjp Cijp − ∇p Rjk Cijp
= ∇i Rjp Cpjk + ∇p Rij Cjpk + ∇p Rij Cpkj + ∇p Rkj Cipj + ∇k Rjp Cijp + ∇p Rjk Cipj
= ∇i Rjp Cpjk − ∇p Rij Cpkj − ∇p Rij Ckjp + ∇p Rij Cpkj + 2∇p Rkj Cipj
= ∇i Rjp Cpjk − ∇p Rij Ckjp + 2∇p Rkj Cipj .

Substituting into (5.3), and making some computations, we obtain the evolution equation

Proposition 5.2. During the Ricci flow of a 3–dimensional Riemannian manifold (M 3 , g(t)) the Bach tensor
satisfies the following evolution equation
 
(∂ t − ∆)Bik = 3∇p RCipk + ∇p RCpki − ∇p R∇k Rip

+ −2Rpl ∇p Cikl − 3Rpk Bpi − 5Rpi Bpk + 2∆Rip Rkp

−2∇l ∇k Rpi Rpl + ∇l ∇k RRli − ∆RRik
 
+ −2∇p Rkl Clpi − 2∇p Rkl Cilp − 4∇p Ril Clpk − 2∇i Rpl Cpkl

+ 3RBik + 2∇s Rpl Cpsl g ik + 2Rpl Bpl g ik
1 1
+ (|∇R|2 + R∆R − ∆|Ric|2 )g ik − (R∇i ∇k R − ∇i ∇k |Ric|2 )
2  2
+2∇l Rip ∇l Rkp − ∇l R∇l Rik .
Hence, if the Bach tensor vanishes identically along the flow, we have
0 = 3∇p RCipk + ∇p RCpki − ∇p R∇k Rip − 2Rpl ∇p Cikl
+2∆Rip Rkp − 2∇l ∇k Rpi Rpl + ∇l ∇k RRli − ∆RRik
−2∇p Rkl Clpi − 2∇p Rkl Cilp − 4∇p Ril Clpk − 2∇i Rpl Cpkl
1
+2∇s Rpl Cpsl g ik + (|∇R|2 + R∆R − ∆|Ric|2 )g ik
2
1
− (R∇i ∇k R − ∇i ∇k |Ric|2 ) + 2∇l Rip ∇l Rkp − ∇l R∇l Rik .
2
Remark 5.3. Note that, from the symmetry property of the Bach tensor, we have that the RHS in the evolution
equation of the Bach tensor should be symmetric in the two indices. It is not so difficult to check that this
property is verified for the formula in Proposition 5.2. Indeed, each of the terms in between square brackets
is symmetric in the two indices.
As a consequence of Proposition 5.2, we get that during the Ricci flow of a 3–dimensional Riemannian man-
ifold the squared norm of the Bach tensor satisfies
(∂ t − ∆)|Bik |2 = −2|∇Bik |2 − 12Bik Biq Rqk + 6Bik ∇p R − 4Bik Rpl ∇p Cikl
+4Bik ∇p Rkl Cpil − 8Bik ∇p Rkl Clpi − 4Bik ∇i Rpl Cpkl + 6R|Bik |2
−2Bik ∇p R∇k Rip + 4Bik ∆Rip Rkp − 4Bik ∇l ∇k Rpi Rpl + 2Bik ∇l ∇k RRli
−2Bik ∆RRik − Bik R∇i ∇k R + Bik ∇i ∇k |Ric|2 − 2Bik ∇l R∇l Rik
+4Bik ∇l Rip ∇l Rkp .
70 | Carlo Mantegazza, Samuele Mongodi, and Michele Rimoldi

5.2 The Bach Tensor of Three–Dimensional Gradient Ricci Solitons

In what follows, we will use formulas (3.1)–(3.5) to derive an expression of the Bach tensor and of its diver-
gence in the particular case of a gradient Ricci soliton in dimension three.
By straightforward computations, we obtain

Bik = ∇j Cijk
∇i ∇k R ∆R g
= − g ik − ∇j Rik ∇j f + ik ∇j R∇j f
 4 4   2 
R R
+ Rij − g ij ∇j ∇k f − Rik − g ik ∆f
2 2
1 1 1
= ∇ ∇ R − ∆Rg ik − ∇j Rik ∇j f + ∇j R∇j fg ik − Rij Rjk + λRik
4 i k 4 2
1 λ 3 1
+ RRik − Rg ik − 3λRik + RRik + λRg ik − R2 g ik
2 2 2 2
1 1 λ 1 λ
= ∇ R ∇ f − Rlk Rli + Rik − ∇l R∇l fg ik − Rg ik
2 i lk l 2 2 4 2
1 1 1
+ |Ric|2 g ik − ∇j Rik ∇j f + ∇j R∇j fg ik − Rij Rjk + λRik + RRik
2 2 2
λ 3 1 2
− Rg ik − 3λRik + RRik + λRg ik − R g ik
2 2 2
1 1 3 3
= ∇ R ∇ f + ∇j R∇j fg ik − ∇j Rik ∇j f − Rij Rjk − λRik
2 i lk l 4 2 2
3 λ 1 2 1 2
+ RRik + Rg ik + |Ric| g ik − R g ik .
2 2 2 2
A more compact formulation, employing equations (3.2) and (3.3), is given by
1 1 1 1 λ 1
Bik = ∇ R ∇ f + ∆Rg ik − ∆Rik − ∇j Rik ∇j f − Rik + Rij Rjk .
2 i lk l 4 2 2 2 2
Moreover, as we know that ∇k Bik = Clji Rlj , we have
1 1 1 1
∇k Bik = R∇ i R − R ∇ R + |Ric|2 ∇i f − R2 ∇i f − Ril ∇j f Rlj + RRij ∇j f
4 4 ij j 2 2
1 3 1
= R∇ i R − R ∇ R + |Ric|2 ∇i f − R2 ∇i f .
2 4 il l 2
Therefore, if the divergence of the Bach tensor vanishes, we conclude
1 3 1
R∇i R − Rik ∇k R + |Ric|2 ∇i f − R2 ∇i f = 0 .
2 4 2
Taking the scalar product with ∇f in both sides of this equation, we obtain
1 3 1
0= Rh∇R, ∇f i − |∇R|2 + |Ric|2 |∇f |2 − R2 |∇f |2
2 8 2
and, from formulas (3.5) and (3.6), we compute
∇j R
     
∇k R R R
|Cijk |2 = (Rij ∇k f − Rik ∇j f ) g ij − g ik + Rij − g ij ∇k f − Rik − g ik ∇j f
4 4 2 2
R 1 R2 R
= ∇k R∇k f − Rkj ∇j R∇k f + |Ric|2 |∇f |2 − |∇f |2 − Rij ∇j f Rik ∇k f + Rkj ∇k f ∇j f
4 4 2 2
1 R R R2
− Rjk ∇j f ∇k R + ∇j R∇j f − Rik ∇k f Rij ∇j f + Rjk ∇j f ∇k f + |Ric| |∇f |2 −
2
|∇f |2
4 4 2 2
3
= 2|Ric|2 |∇f |2 − R2 |∇f |2 + R∇k R∇k f − |∇R|2 ,
4
where we repeatedly used equation (3.4).
Therefore, we obtain
1
∇k Bik ∇i f = |C |2 ,
2 ijk
 The Cotton Tensor and the Ricci Flow | 71

so, if the divergence of the Bach tensor vanishes then the Cotton tensor vanishes as well (this was already
obtained in [2]). As a consequence, getting back to Section 3, the soliton is locally a warped product of a
constant curvature surface on a interval of R.

References
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Differential Equations 49 (2014), no. 1-2, 125–138.
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Geometric flows, vol. 12, Int. Press, Somerville, MA, 2008, pp. 47–112.
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